Should be a good one. Four years ago the Canadians were nowhere near this quality and they still gave the Reds a good run in the quarters.

They're closely matched and its going to come down to luck and goaltending likely. The Russians came with a dozen forwards and eight D and have lost a centreman so apparently they may go with three centres, one of those being Fedorov. So this may be something in favour of Canada if they can take advantage of old Sergei or wear out Malkin and Datsyuk.

The Russian D may be had but I worry about seeing Pronger and Boyle facing the fleeter forwards like Ovechkin. I haven't seen Boyle that good at all. For that matter Niedermeyer worries me too. I'd like to see Seabrook out there but then again what do I know.

The Canadians have pretty well outplayed everyone, including the Americans, by a pretty good margin, and last night seemed to be their best game in terms of winning puck battles and all of that jazz. I know a few folks give the big pshaw to the notion of intensity and all of that but I thought last night had a solid effort start to finish from all of the forwards. Guys like Perry and Nash and Staal and, well, everyone, seemed to be on the ball all the way through. Have not seen that in a few cases.

Final thoughts.

If Getzlaf is hurt then either he pulled one over on management (selfish/dumb) or they took a chance on him (dumb). If he is not hurt then maybe he ought to do a little more because he's been unimpressive to me.

Coming out party for Keith, Doughty, Toews. Toews has not been the best forward for Canada but he's up there. He always comes away with the puck.

I've followed Contrarian Goaltender forever and he's pretty convincing. He rates Luongo over Nabokov, so theoretically we have the goaltending edge tonight. Over single games that means close to fuck-all but every tenth of a percent counts here.

I wonder if the gameplan is Thornton vs. Ovechkin or Crosby vs. Ovechkin. I prefer the latter personally but the split-up of Nash and Crosby telegraphs that as being unlikely.

A shame because I thought we brought the soft Sharks wingers along with Thornton so the trio could eat soft minutes. Thornton is awesome but damn if you're going to go PVP against Ovechkin-Malkin-Semin then all three forwards have to be prepared for it.

PDO: they have a whole HOUSE full of vodka tocry into as Sochi House is right next door to the Village here. Rumours about the parties have started circulating. Atmosphere is on edge I will say. No one is quite ready to put the Canadians into the next round. Every tough win makes that gold sweeter though!

I know a few folks give the big pshaw to the notion of intensity and all of that but I thought last night had a solid effort start to finish from all of the forwards. Guys like Perry and Nash and Staal and, well, everyone, seemed to be on the ball all the way through. Have not seen that in a few cases.

Good call, Pat. It's not me saying pshaw, the emotional side of the game is hugely important IMO. The more intense and focussed team has a fighting chance even if they are an inferior squad otherwise, which ours most certainly is not. So if they are bringing their A game as they did again tonight, the other team is in for a rough time, I don't care how good they are.

You add Green and Boumeester to the Keith/Seabrook/Doughty/Weber foursome, and I think this country is set on the blueline for the next couple Winter Games after this one.

Currently basking in the afterglow of the win with a glass of port and some Ashley MacIsaac playing on the iPod dock. My neighbors probably hate me, but fuck it, tomorrow is day one of four glorious days off work and at home.

Bruce - yeah it counts for a lot, we see it with our own club. By my eye Perry, for example, was far better, not because he scored two goals, but because he was in the mix right from the start, Getzlaf too.

For me Toews and Keith have been the stars of the tournament though. Toews never comes out of the corner without the puck.

Awesome: Being in Vancouver for the Olympics. Witnessed Canada receiving a Silver Medal in Short Track Relay last night, a surreal scene to say the least.

Not awesome: My liver despises me right now.

The rumors are that the parties in Sochi house have been epic. I find that hard to believe because I lived in this city for 6 years and have never seen such a bevy of beautiful ladies, liquor and awesome people. Everywhere is an epic party, just trying to soak it all in.

Once 5 o'clock comes and goes, the international houses close down to 'private hosting opportunities' only. No Russian passport? Not much chance to get in. I can share a bit more (rumor mind you) after Sunday. For right now, what happens in the village stays in the village.News report - published - says that they had to order up more condoms for both villages. They started with 100K.